We commissioned four new electro-acoustic works by Olga Bell, David Bird, Gabrielle Herbst, and Isaac Schankler. Here is how they describe their pieces in a nutshell, but of course nothing beats hearing them live. We'll premiere the music on May 25 at National Sawdust. Get your tickets here!

Olga Bell

"My piece is called Zero Initiative, and I’m happy to reveal that it prominently features a “field recording” captured two winters ago, at 2am, from the line outside Output. It’s been incredibly fun and restorative working on this music." -Olga Bell

Gabrielle Herbst. Photo credit: Tim Saccenti

"Where is my voice investigates the feeling of not being able to speak – when you can’t find the words or space to express those words. It is a piece about breath, vulnerability and inner voices being translated to the outside world. Through an electronic vocal landscape and acoustic chamber music, the work searches for self-expression, communication and inner peace." -Gabrielle Herbst

Isaac Schankler

"Artifacts is in a sense about the collision of time scales that often happens when electronic music and acoustic music meet. Electronic music often asks us to slow down and focus on one particular idea or texture, with minute changes that may take a long time to even become audible. Acoustic music, on the other hand, is often eager to impress or overwhelm us with conflagrations of notes and gestures. When I tried to smoosh these things together, a lot of unexpected byproducts popped out. I decided to keep these artifacts." -Isaac Schankler

David Bird

"Cy is a muted and intricate work inspired by the off-white colors and scribbled, graffiti-like lines in Cy Twombly's paintings. The piece features clarinet preparations and alterations as well as triggered samples of cassette tape tones and tape hiss." -David Bird